“Learned to sleep anywhere.” For three months she used a slant board instead of a mattress

profesionálny filozof a orientalista, mentor odborníkov v oblasti sebarozvoja

When I was young, I was fond of ascetic practices, among which was vigil at night with a reduction in the amount of sleep. Once, for three months in the 90s, I practiced an interesting variant of night rest on a slanted board.

The essence is that a wide wooden board is placed on one of the armrests of the sofa, thanks to which a small angle of about 15-20 degrees is obtained. However, the body feels like it is maintaining an upright position. Of course, there were no mattresses on the board, just a polished wooden surface.

Among the effects of such “rest” we can name the following:

• Firstly, I could only sleep on my back, so my posture was very much aligned;
• Secondly, you can’t sleep too much, I got up myself without an alarm clock after five or six hours of night rest;
• thirdly, I practically do not remember having dreams, only falling into a deep sleep.

Thus, I developed the habit of falling asleep instantly, because I slept little, and for almost a day without sleep fatigue accumulated. So the discomfort did not feel like an obstacle to falling asleep, not to mention the absence of the slightest signs of insomnia.

I fell asleep instantly as soon as I let myself lie down on the board. However, due to the rigid board, I would also get up as soon as my body naturally fell asleep. This habit helped me a lot when I was traveling, when I had to sleep whenever and wherever I wanted.

However, the effect of continuous wakefulness was accumulating, and for longer than three months I began to fear that I might start falling asleep, even sitting on a chair. That’s why I stopped these studies and started sleeping normally in a normal bed again.

Such experiments can be done for a short period of time, just as one can go on a diet temporarily, but then the body must be given a chance to recover from the excessive strain, so that it does not reach the point of extreme exhaustion – in this case, the “wearing out” of the mind by being awake. And, of course, such practices should not be started without consulting a doctor.

Názor lekára

Kandidátka lekárskych vied, doktorka integratívnej, preventívnej a konvenčnej medicíny, odborníčka na výživu

While it is possible to sleep less than five hours a night, this is not recommended for most people. The amount of sleep a person needs can vary depending on factors such as age, genetics, and lifestyle, but most adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night to function at their best.

Regularly sleeping less than five hours per night can lead to a number of negative effects, including:

• Fatigue and decreased energy. If you get less sleep, you may feel tired and lethargic throughout the day;

• impaired cognitive function. Lack of sleep can impair your ability to concentrate, remember things, and make decisions;

• increased risk of accidents: sleep deprivation can lead to impaired reaction time, increasing your risk of accidents while driving or performing other activities;

• mood disorders: people who sleep less than five hours a day may experience irritability, mood swings, and increased stress levels;

• increased risk of health problems: sleep deprivation is linked to a number of health problems, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and decreased immune function;

• shortened life expectancy: chronic sleep deprivation has been linked to shortened life expectancy.

For people with back pain or spinal problems, sleeping on a hard surface can aggravate their condition. Soft surfaces, such as mattresses, can help alleviate pressure points and reduce pain.

Sleeping on a hard surface can also be uncomfortable for people with joint pain or arthritis. A softer surface can provide more cushioning and joint support.

As people age, they may need more support while sleeping. A harder surface may not provide enough cushioning for older people, leading to discomfort and pain.

People who are overweight may need extra support while sleeping. A hard surface may not provide enough support for their weight, resulting in discomfort and pain.